Kitchen helper, often old (5)
I believe the answer is:
timer
'kitchen' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for timer that I've seen before include "Clock or watch" , "Preset mechanisation to activate a device" , "One may have the minutes" , "Remit for, say, measuring device - or the measurer (5)" , "Clocklike actuator" .)